The Mata do Bussaco (Portugal) officially becomes the first certified therapeutic forest in the entire Iberian Peninsula

This forest area of ??105 hectares, located in the Portuguese municipality of Mealhada (in the central region of Portugal), received last July this prestigious health seal awarded by the International Certification Office for Therapeutic Forests, an entity linked to the International Society of Forest Therapy (ISFT). The forest was promoted and initially protected four centuries ago by the Discalced Carmelites, who built a convent there in the 17th century as a retreat for contemplation and isolation. However, currently the space offers an adapted route of about two kilometers in length free of large slopes, which can serve as forest therapy. Everything you need to know about La Mata do Bussaco, the first certified therapeutic forest in the entire Iberian Peninsula. First of all, it has one of the best dendrological collections in Europe, bringing together nearly 250 species of trees and shrubs. It stands out for housing the largest concentration of fir trees in the world, as well as sequoias, firs, oaks and majestic cedars. On the other hand, the environment is home to more than 150 species of vertebrates, including birds of prey, woodpeckers, foxes, salamanders and newts. Furthermore, to obtain this seal, the Mata do Bussaco Foundation analyzed different environmental parameters such as air quality, acoustics and insulation or its accessibility. With this recognition, the Portuguese natural environment enters a select and very small international club, being the fourth forest in the world to obtain this distinction, along with three others located in Germany and Austria. Bussacos certification will remain valid until 2031, although its managers are already working to regulate the increase in visitors and ensure the primitive state of the ecosystem.